Book Review: For the Longest Time by Kendra Leigh Castle

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For the Longest Time
Harvest Cove #1
Author: Kendra Leigh Castle
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: July 1st 2014
Review Source: Signet | Penguin

For Samantha Henry, it took a ten-year absence to appreciate the close-knit New England town with an appeal all its own....

After a perfect storm of events leaves Sam high, dry, and jobless, she has to head home to Harvest Cove to regroup. Growing up, she was the town misfit, and a brief high school romance that resulted in heartbreak made her realize she was never going to fit in. But now with the support of her mother and an unexpected circle of allies, Sam starts to wonder if she’s misjudged the town all these years.

Life’s been good to Jake Smith. He transitioned from popular jock to town veterinarian without any trouble. But Sam’s homecoming makes him question his choices. The sharp-tongued beauty was never a good fit for the small community, but he’s never forgotten her—or how good they were together. While she makes it clear she’s not about to repeat the past, Jake’s determined to convince her to give him—and Harvest Cove—a second chance.

This novel is a reminder of why I love romance stories in a small town. Just like The Notebook and the movie, Sweet Home Alabama, this book makes me wish I were part of a small town. A town where everyone knows each other. A town one can leave but never forget. The place where you first felt in love.

With no friends, no job, no place to call home in New York, Sam Henry returns to place she ran away from.  On her first day back to her town, Harvest Cove, she runs to the one person she never wanted to see again, Jake Smith.  As her first love, Jake broke Sam’s heart. He is the reason of her departure. With a broken heart, Sam tries to avoid Jake during her stay but he is determined to make her see that he is not the same young idiot that let her get away.

What I loved most about Kendra’s new debut in contemporary romance is one can easily relate to the characters. Most of all, the story is very believable. When we are in high school, especially guys, we all can be jerks to one another. Jake was one. He wasn’t really nice to Sam. Knowing Sam had the biggest crush on him, he took advantage of her feelings. Now as a grown man, Jake is determined to make Sam believe he is not the same. I love how he was so into her and how he took every chance to proof that he’d changed.

For the Longest Time is a perfect read for the summer. A summer of love. A summer of second chances.